Nearly fifty historic buildings have been improved, this year, as part of the ongoing commitment to regenerate and restore much of Hastings & St Leonards’ stunning architecture.
Image is all important if the town is to continue to attract visitors and new businesses to improve its economy. Shops, hotels, restaurants and businesses are being targeted by the Council’s Conservation & Design section, which offers historic building grants to owners who want to repair and restore their buildings.
A series of grants totalling £700,000 has meant that key buildings in the town centres have been restored. A joint scheme between the Council and English Heritage has brought about much needed improvements to Wellington Place. This area of the town has also been boosted by a commercial grants scheme.
Jempsons Bakery and café was, until 2001, a site of three vacant and semi derelict 19th Century shop units. Helped by the grants, new shop fronts were put in and the original features on the upper floors have been restored.
KFC expanded to four times its original size into the Victorian Buildings beside it and now boasts new shop fronts and the original ornamental ironwork on the upper floors has been restored.
The empty Seeboard building was taken over by Millets in 2001. The 1930s shop front was remodelled and the roofs and chimney stacks which were decaying were fully repaired. The building is one of only six in the town that has mathematical tiles, which were restored and replaced along with the original curved bays.
The run down Carlisle Parade area on the seafront was boosted by the same grant scheme with repairs made to the 19th Century Lindum Hotel including the ornate first floor canopy.
Robertson Street in the America Ground area of the town centre has been the site of many conservation and design projects including the installation of a new ‘period’ shop front on Havelock Accommodation Services (below left). This was made possible through grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund Conservation Area Partnership (CAPS) and the Council.
The Conservation and Design Team is also working with architects on the proposed new Media Centre in Robertson Street and the 1960s BT building on Havelock Road,which will be upgraded and remodelled for use as the University Centre.
Central St Leonards has some key historic buildings within it. Period shop fronts have been replaced along Kings Road and the high quality upper storey architectural detail is being enhanced as buildings are cleaned and repaired.
The derelict old school buildings of Christ Church Old School have been authentically restored and have been brought back into social use. Restoration of the boundary walls and railings during 2003, along with the new Christ Church Parsonage which is being built, will complete this flagship regeneration project.
Owners and occupiers of Marine Court, the 1930s seafront building are working with the Council to agree a conservation management strategy which will provide a plan for all future upgrading of the commercial and residential parts of the building. The building has recently benefited from the Council’s lighting scheme which has enhanced the seafront.
48 Marina is an original James Burton Listed building. It has been propped up to prevent its collapse following a structural failure. A major repair and restoration project will start this year.
Regent Court, the notorious seafront eyesore, is now well into its restoration and repair programme which has been supported by grants from the Council and Heritage Lottery Fund.
Repairs to the main wall around Hastings Castle have just been completed.
Another four rows of the historic net shops at the Stade have been repaired and the Oak Passage high pavement (above) at the bottom of the High Street in the Old Town has been reconstructed and restored in authentic natural stone.
The Conservation & Design team is also supporting the restoration of Alexandra Park, including developing conservation proposals for the listed war memorial which stands in the lower park.
For more information about grants available, please contact Conservation and Design Manager, Andy Robinson, on 783274 or email arobinson@hastings.gov.uk
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This page last updated: 04/04/2003